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Ripen your autumn squash now

26/9/2014

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The phrase 'Indian Summer'. used to describe a period of warm weather in early autumn, links us to the earliest settlers in America, who copied the local Indians in using this spell of fine weather to harvest and ripen the crops which would feed them through the bitter New England winters.

Winter (or autumn) squash were one of the harvests which were most important both to the Native Americans and the settlers. they knew the squash had tobe taken from the plant and put in a sunny place for the skins to 'cure' and the insides to finish ripening. The process not only improved the falvour, it insured the squash would keep for as long as possible.

Copy the 'Red Indians' and cure your squash in a sunny place. It is probably best to take them home to do this, as they will be safer there. Trim away and soft portion of stem and lay them on a bench or even a shed roof, where the air can circulate and the skins dry. Then store them in a dry, frost-free shed until you are ready to eat them.

For more about harvesting and storing squash, click here to go to an article from North Carolina State University!
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Blight on late-planted potatoes

20/9/2014

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If you have planted your potatoes in spring, no doubt they are all lifted and stored by now. There is no advantage in leaving them in the ground a minute after the haulm has died down, as it only leaves them vulnerable to slug attack.

If you have planted potatoes late because you have recently taken on your plot, or if you are trying out planting late summer for new potatoes in the autumn, you need to be aware that there is a very great deal of blight around right now, and the humid warm conditions mean it will spread quickly.

Potato blight also affects outdoor tomatoes. It is worth taking extra care not to allow blight to infest your plot from year to year. You can protect potatoes, as well as tomatoes, from blight by spraying with Bordeaux mixture.

Click here for a particularly clear article on potato blight.

For more about Bordeaux mixture click here.

For our own page on growing potatoes click here

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    Kent's climate is drier, hotter and has a longer growing season than the average for the UK. Advice in gardening books may not fit Kent. This blog has local tips on what will grow and when to do garden jobs.

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